Alessandro Panconesi MD of the America Migraine Foundation says: Alcohol is a migraine trigger, but its risk overstated. Alcohol can provoke two types of headache in migraine patients: an attack within a few hours and a delayed hangover headache. Migraine patients consume alcohol less often than the general public. Although migraine sufferers consider red wine the principal migraine trigger, studies show that other alcoholic drinks are equally or more frequently the cause. Alcohol, and not a different constituent of the drink, is probably the trigger. A small dose of alcohol, such as a 5-ounce glass of good wine, can be consumed if it does not trigger migraine frequently. Drink in small amounts to the benefit of your heart but use caution with breast cancer risks.